Corinna Robinson pitches her ability to get things done

Nov. 1, 2013

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The Democratic challenger to Rep. Kristi Noem received a warm reception and standing ovation Friday from Sioux Falls-area Democrats, in addition to some campaign donations.

Retired Army officer Corinna Robinson spoke briefly to members of the weekly Democratic Forum held in Sioux Falls, talking about her background and desire to help South Dakotans.

“I do wish elections were tomorrow, because I’m ready not only to win, but to get to work, and roll up my sleeves and get other people to come to the plate and solve a lot of national-level problems that we have that have definitely affected South Dakota here at home,” she told forum attendees.

A Rapid City native, Robinson plans to make a formal announcement on Veterans Day about her intention to seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House. She didn’t go into details on her stances on various issues, saying she’ll have more information after her formal announcement.

Friday, Democratic forum attendees bought homemade jam at $10 a jar, with the proceeds going to Robinson’s campaign. Others also gave additional donations.

Robinson served in the Army for 25 years and recently resigned as director of the anti-terrorism and force protection directorate at the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, so she could run for Congress in her native South Dakota.

“When I joined the Army at the age of 17, I knew, in my heart, I was capable of going out there and helping serve our great nation. I grew up with great American values: faith, family, career, being ethical, hardworking,” she said told forum attendees.

She spent 11 years in the enlisted ranks before earning a commission through officer-candidate school. She retired as a major, spending most of her career in the military police, which included a tour in Iraq. As a civilian, she served an additional tour in Iraq as a director of legislative affairs, coordinating travel among congressional members.

Some who attended the forum Friday said Robinson seems like a good candidate.

“I think she’s a very strong, very viable candidate,” said Susan Torres from Sioux Falls, who attended the forum Friday. “She has a lot of very credible experience, and a lot of responsibility. I think her military background is a plus, I think it’s going to speak to South Dakotans.”

Robinson said she would be a representative gets things done, saying she was known in the Pentagon as “Gunslinger.”

“If you need something to get done, you send Corrina. She’ll go one-on-one with the city mayor or a police chief or whoever it is, a member of Congress,” she told the crowd. “You’re going to get the hard truth, but guess what? You’re going to get the signature, you’re going to get things moving, not just talk.”

She said targeted spending and ethical decision making is “the way she does business.”

Others who attended the forum agreed she has an impressive background and is well spoken but were uncertain how she’d be received across the state.

“I was impressed,” said Bill Doetzel of Sioux Falls.

“She wants to get things done, I like that. That’s what we’ve got to have. I think if people just were open and listened (to her) and compared, that’s important. Then they could make their decisions. But, I think she’s got a good shot, I really do.”